'Grace Is A Free-Range Kid': Bindi Irwin Is Giving Her Daughter The Fun & Free Childhood She Enjoyed
Bindi Irwin is passing on her family's free-spirited way of living to her beloved daughter, Grace. The eldest child of famous conservationists and zoo owners Terri and Steve Irwin, Bindi has spent her entire life living at her family's famous wildlife sanctuary, the Australia Zoo, so it only makes sense that she would raise her own child in the same magical environment. Growing up with the "Crocodile Hunter" for a father, Bindi and her brother, Robert Irwin, have been surrounded by some of Australia's most magnificent creatures since they were kids. Following Steve's death in 2006, the rest of the Irwins kept the zoo running in the hopes of carrying on his mission. Bindi continues to honor her father while giving her own daughter the same fun and free childhood she had.
As she's evolved into a grown woman in front of the public's eyes, Bindi had a complete transformation. Then, her life was forever changed once she became a mom. Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell, welcomed Grace in March 2021, and they have been raising her at their home located at the zoo ever since. "I actually live right in the middle of Australia Zoo with my family. My neighbors are crocodiles and birds and rhinos," Bindi said in a May 2026 interview with SheKnows. "All of the animals are just running around, living their best lives, having so much fun, and then we get to stop and admire them." As for Grace, Bindi said her daughter's unique upbringing has provided her with the best childhood, much like her own. "Like we always say, Grace is a free-range kid; she just runs around and has so much fun with all of our animals."
Grace already lives up to her name as a wildlife warrior
Bindi Irwin's daughter has already started living up to her name. Her full moniker, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, is a tribute to both Bindi and her husband's families, with a special reference to Bindi's late dad. The middle name "Warrior" is an homage to Steve Irwin's Wildlife Warriors, a non-profit organization with a mission of educating and raising awareness about wildlife conservation. Grace may be young, but she already spends plenty of time getting to know the animals at her family's zoo. Bindi believes this is an important part of any child's development. "If you have kids, take them outside, take them somewhere with animals so that they can build and expand on that kindness and empathy because it does make a difference for the rest of your life," she said in the same SheKnows interview.
As for Grace's full name, Bindi explained in a 2023 Instagram post, "Grace is named after my great-grandmother, and relatives in Chandler's family dating back to the 1700s." It's clearly one of those vintage names that can still feel fresh. Grace's second middle name, Irwin, is, of course, another tribute to her late grandfather. Bindi has said that Grace is likely to be the couple's only child, due to her battle with endometriosis, a condition that can be a sign of infertility problems. In a Q&A video posted on YouTube in 2024, Bindi said she's perfectly happy with her family of three, but that you never know what the future holds. "Maybe we will be blessed with another little one down the road. That would be incredible. But who knows?" she said.